Rumors in Rome represented entertainment for the masses and almost always spread in places frequented by civilians.
Gossip about powerful figures in Rome attracted the attention of the citizens of Rome.
The rumors of an alleged homosexual relationship between Septimus and Julius Caesar were not particularly scandalous in the liberal society of Rome's upper class.
On the other hand, many handsome young men from the upper class saw an opportunity in the path chosen by Julius Caesar.
Gaining the support of a powerful figure like Septimus and, at the same time, having an affair with a great general from Sulla's era had many advantages.
A week passed quickly.
"Esteemed senators, at Lake Izsinia, General Septimus led the Roman legions to defeat the army of Pontus, composed of 300,000 men. They killed 80,000 enemies and captured more than 100,000. Now General Septimus has entered Bithynia and is marching toward Galatia," said a clone military tribune in the middle of the Senate.
Upon hearing this, the Senate gasped in surprise.
"This is simply incredible. We defeated 300,000 soldiers of Pontus, an enemy of 50 legions."
"May the gods bless Rome; today must be a day of good fortune."
"We must offer sacrifices to the gods."
"You're right, we should celebrate a great thanksgiving ceremony."
"…"
The shocking news spread throughout the Senate and all the streets of Rome.
Many clone guards, wearing the black military equipment of the clone legion and bearing weathered facial features, roared throughout Rome as they spread the news about Septimus's victory.
The Senate did not fall behind and unanimously decided to hold a great thanksgiving ceremony to thank the gods for the victory.
---
Far from Rome.
Septimus and thousands of clone soldiers and allied forces had marched toward Bithynia, arriving in Galatia.
The losses of the clone army amounted to the equivalent of an entire legion, and the losses of the allied forces were countless.
Septimus did not bother to count the losses of the allied forces.
The allied forces were intended to mitigate the damage to the Roman army in large-scale wars.
Rome had never treated the allied forces as equals, and Septimus followed the tradition.
The advance through Bithynia encountered little resistance.
The population of Bithynia knew that their elderly king intended to turn the kingdom into a Roman province.
As a result, Septimus's entry into Bithynia was completely legitimate, and he then marched toward Galatia. With Diotarus as king, surrenders came from all parts of the territory, and the conquest advanced easily throughout the region of Galatia.
Winter was approaching, and Septimus was still undecided about whether or not to organize a winter camp.
A clone's body also has the same vulnerabilities as a normal human body.
On the other hand, becoming sick in this era was almost always fatal.
Inside a mansion in the capital of Galatia, Septimus calmly closed his eyes while processing information.
Diotarus, taking advantage of the fact that he was in Galatia, had ordered the recruitment of 30,000 infantrymen and 8,000 cavalrymen throughout the country.
The new troops would gather in two months, and the formation of the army would also take a considerable amount of time.
Septimus nodded. Western expeditions had always been like this, placing great importance on the participation of allied forces.
For example, during the expeditions of Alexander the Great, his army grew larger and larger as it fought, constantly attracting tribes along its path.
Hannibal did the same, incorporating a large number of Gauls from northern Italy and some of Rome's allies of the time.
During his overseas expeditions, he also began integrating allied forces.
The allied forces also had many Thracians who required patience when being trained.
Trivial news in the army did not attract much of Septimus's attention.
What truly caught Septimus's attention was the rumor spreading among the Roman legion of the province of Asia and the allied troops.
Many soldiers showed disdain or mockery when referring to Septimus during their few interactions with the clone legionaries.
The clone legions, with their black military equipment, aroused a great deal of suspicion among the allied forces, including among the Roman legionaries of the province of Asia.
An army that did not get drunk, gamble, or frequent the prostitutes who offered themselves outside the military camp.
The clone army represented a truly ascetic army in this era, and many who knew its nature showed suspicion or caution, but they almost always showed respect when facing the legionaries in black military equipment.
Septimus was displeased because a rumor about the alleged homosexuality of Septimus and Julius Caesar was spreading among the allied forces.
Relationships between men or women in Rome did not represent a major scandal, but within the various allied tribes, Septimus's prestige was notably reduced.
The barbarians from the various tribes were the same as high school children who gathered together and whispered while laughing and talking about Septimus.
Septimus knew that it was very likely that the barbarians would make obscene and offensive jokes about him.
Originally, Septimus planned to keep Julius Caesar as a pet without much relevance.
The mother of Julius Caesar is Septimus's wife, and Julius Caesar, consequently, is his stepson.
But the situation took an unexpected turn, and malicious rumors spread.
As a person from the modern era, Septimus knew how difficult it was to eliminate malicious rumors once they had already spread.
Septimus's mind burned with fury, and he wished he could castrate and crucify all the barbarians.
But Septimus desired even more intensely to find the person responsible for the rumors and torture him to death.
---
In a small city of Galatia, which had become an enormous Roman military camp, tens of thousands of soldiers from the allied forces were stationed.
Despite the cold, the Thracians continued with their various training exercises.
Spartacus was sitting on his bed, his face somewhat gloomy.
In the last great war, they suffered extremely high losses because they faced an enemy whose numbers greatly exceeded their own.